Apparatus for impregnating textile materials



y 1953 J. ROCKOFF 2,637,892

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING TEXTILE MATERIALS Original Filed Jan. 18, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. F G 2 JOSEPH ROGKOFF ATT'y y 1953 J. ROCKOFF APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING TEXTILE MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 18, 1947 'INVENNMK JOSEPH ROOKOFF Arr-y Patented May 12, 1953 APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATlNG TEXTILE MATERIALS Joseph Rockoffl Dayton, ()hio, assignor to The Dayton Rubber Company, a corporation of Ohio Original application January 18, 1947, Serial No. 722,805. Divided and thisapplication September. 15, 1949, Serial No. 115,863

10 Claims. 1 This invention deals with an apparatus for impregnating textile materials with liquids, and in particular for controlling the amount of liquid absorbed by textile materials.

It is thus an object of this invention to provide for a very uniform moisture content in textile fiber materials. i

It is also an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for impregnating textil fiber materials with liquids which operates very uniformly.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for impregnating textile fiber materials in which the operation remains uniform so that the impregnation may be carried out as a continuous process.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for impregnating textile fiber materials with liquids inwhich partsdo not wear down to a considerable amount so that discontinuation ofthe process'for the purpose of replacing parts is hardly ever necessary.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for impregnating textile fiber materials with liquids whereby humidity control of the work room may be partly or fully dispensed with.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 722,805, filed January 18,;

from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. In this instanc the invention is illustrated by way of example to the sizing of fibrous threads without limiting it to this specific application.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section of an apparatus of my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--Z of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on a still more enlarged scale, taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view. on an enlarged scale, of a slasher roll of my invention with parts thereof broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral Ill indicates container holding the sizing bath ll. Thread to be soaked with sizing liquid is designated with reference nu eral 12. This thread is guided over a front drive roll l3 and a back drive roll M both made of steel and arranged at the top of the bath partially mg to their original shape.

2 submerging therein. Both rolls are driven by the shaft 24 through the bevel gears 25 and 26. On top of each of said steel rolls, there is mounted a rubber roll, the so-called slasher rolls. These slasher rolls are designated with the numerals I5 and I6, respectively. They Weigh about 500 to 700 pounds and run freely, driven by their weight, on said steel rolls. They are mounted in bearing blocks 2| slidable in 'U- shaped slots 22. The slots 22 are formed in end bearing brackets 23 to facilitate removal of the rolls for cleaning and to permit the full weight of the rolls I5 and I 6 to bear upon the thread l2.

The slasher roll l5 comprises an inner bulk layer ll of solid rubber material (Figs. 3 and 5) and an outer relatively thinner surface layer it of a sponge rubber material. This sponge layer comprises a plurality of uniformly distributed interconnected holes [9. It will be seen, in particular from Figures 4 and 5, that channels 2B are formed by the interconnected pores l9.

The apparatus of my invention operates as follows: The thread or other textile material to be. sized is passed through the sizing bath, and then over the guide rolls l 3 and I4. The slasher rolls with their sponge layers act on the impregnated thread by their weight and absorb and thus eliminate any excess of the sizing material. The weight of the slasher rolls causes deformation of that part of the sponge which is directly above the conveyor rolls. However, immediately after this contact point, this pressure ceases and consequently the sponge resumed its original dimensions. The channels in the sponge which during pressure receive a squeezing action, exert a suction on the textile material while return- Thus, if there was too much sizing liquid absorbed by the textile material, this excess is removed by the sucking action occurring when the rubber sponge of the slasher roll resumes its original shape. On the other hand, if the textile material did not absorb enough of the sizing liquidwhich for instance can happen when the speed of the textile material is too highthe rubber sponge, which is always soaked with said sizing liquid, releases some of said liquid when squeezed during indirect contact with said conveyor roll and thus controls the quantity of sizing material on the textile thread.

It was found that by this method of controlling the liquid in the textile material the predetermined amount of sizing material may be incorporated into the fibers with a relatively high degree of accuracy. Another advantage of my new apparatus is that the humidity of the working room does not affect a great deal the adsorption and the liquid content of the fibers and thus moisture control may be partly or wholly dispensed with. The operation of my apparatus is very uniform and also remains uniform for a long period of time; the top layer of the slasher roll is of high elasticity and immediately resumes its original shape after. deformation. None of the parts are subject to considerable wear. All these factors contribute to making a continuous and satisfactory operation possible.

The slasher roll used in the apparatus of my invention is preferably madeby first arranging solid rubber material onto a mandrelina thickness desired of the bulk layer, vulcanizing said layer, thereafter preparing a mixture of. rubber, or rubber-like material, and crystals of a Water soluble salt and applyingsaid mixture over said solid rubberlayer. The built-up unit is thenvulcanized, preferably after being wrapped in a wet cloth. After vulcanization, the cover is ground to the precise size and surface condition desired.

Thereafte the salt is removedby leaching it"out with water. This leaching process-is preferably carried out under pressure, for example under pressure of approximately 200 lbs. per square inch. In order to obtain; after leaching, pores that are interconnected and thus to malie possible that the surface layer in its entire thickness may beutilized, arelativeiy great' amount f salt crystals is incorporated into said surface layer. It is evident that'tlie degree of porosity may be ad-- justed by merely varying the amount of salt added. I have obtained very satisfactory results with 200 to 300 parts by Weight of salt per 100 parts of rubber or rubber-like material, but it will be understood that the particularproportions of salt and rubber are widely variable depending upon the texture.

Instead of grinding'the surface prior to leaching, the salt crystals may also be removed first and then the covering be surface conditioned by grinding; In this caseit is advantageous, though not' obligatory, to drythe unit prior to grinding.

The method of manufacturing the roll cover ings described forms the subject of my copending application Serial No. 722,804, filed January 1947i Various kinds of rubber materials are usable for the object of my invention. Natural aswell as synthetic rubbers are operative, the selection bein dependent upon the use intended for the covering. Synthetic rubbers which are found satisfactory for my purpose are neoprene, butadiene copolymers, such as butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer and butadiene styrene copolymer, and to polysulfide rubbers. Filler materials, vulcanizing agents and other auxiliary substances known maybe added to the rubber materials.

As the pore-creating salt, any water soluble material is usable which does not decompose or disintegrate at the vulcanization temperature. For instance, sodium chloride, various kinds of sulfates, sugar and others obvious to those skilled in the art may be used.

It will be understood that the thickness of the outer sponge layer is dependent upon the size of the covering and upon the purpose for which it is intended. A thickness of from 1 to 2 inches for the bulk layer and of a"; to of an inch for the sponge layer were the thicknesses preferred. Similarly the hardness of the material also has to be adjusted according to the purpose in- 4 tended. A hardness of from 40 to 60 on the Shore scale A was found the optimal range for slasher rolls.

It will be obvious that by the specific method of preparingthesponge rubber layer on the coverings-of my invention arr-article is obtained which has an extremely uniform texture and in which the holes are interconnected These interconnected holes .orpores form channel-like voids which have a considerably higher suction than have small individual pores; as a result thereof, a highen absorbability is obtained. Due to the innor se'lid'bullflayer, the rigidity and form-stability of the covering are considerably greater than it itswere made entirely of sponge rubber. This featurexofi' having only the outer layer made of sponge rubber. facilitates cleaning of the channels in case this should become necessary, since the innermost ends of the channels are better accessible to the cleaning means. Furthermore, due to the uniform size anddistribution cfthe cavities, the operation of the covering ismore uniform at it's-various locations.

Although my invention has been. described mainly in connection with textile sizing, it will be understood that it is not restricted to'this speciflc application, but that it may be used f a great many purposes Wherever textile materials are-tube treatedwith a liquid.

It will" also be understood that .vhilethere have been described herein certain specific embodi ments cf'my invention, it is not intend-e :1 thereby to'have it limited to or circumscribed by the speciiic details given in View of the fact that this invention is susceptibleto various modifications and changes which come within the spirit of t disclosure and the-scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for impregnating textile materials with liquids, the combination of a sizing'bath, guide rolls partially submerged in said bath for conveying said textile materials over said bath and applying liquid from said bath to said textile material, a-slasher roll with an absorbent cover of' sponge rubber composed of channels, each of said channels consisting of interconnected regularly shaped pores said pores conforming in shapeto water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed therefrom by dissolution in water, said slasher roll cooperating with one of said guide rolls to control the amount of liquid left in said textile material.

2. In an apparatus for impregnating te: ile materials with liquids, the conbination of a sizing bath, guide rolls partially submerged in said bath for conveying said textile materials over said bath and applying, liquid from said bath to said textile material, a slasherroll cooperating with one of said guide rolls to control the amount of liquid left in said textile mate 'ial, said slasher roll having a covering of rubber-like materials with an outer layer of sponge rubber composed of channels, each of said channels consisting of inter connected regularly shaped pores said pores conforming in shape to water soluble particles compounded with said cover' and removed therefrom by dissolution in water.

3. In an apparatus for impregnating textile materials with liquids, the combination of asizing bath, guide rolls partially submerged in said bath for conveying said textile materials over said bath and applying liquid from said bath to said. textile material, a slasher roll each cooperating with one of said guide rolls to control the amount of liquid left. in said. textile material,

said slasher rolls having a covering of rubberlike material consisting of an inner bulk layer of solid rubber and an outer layer of sponge rubber composed of channels, each of said channels consisting of interconnected regularly shaped pores said pores conforming in shape to water soluble particles compounded with said cover and re moved therefrom by dissolution in Water.

4. In an apparatus for impregnating textile materials with liquids, the combination of a siz ing bath, guide rolls partially submerged in said bath for conveying said textile materials over said bath and applying liquid from said bath to said textile material, a slasher roll each cooperating with one of said guide rolls to control the amount of liquid left in said textile material, said slasher rolls having a covering of rubber-like material consisting of an inner bulk layer of solid rubber and an outer layer of sponge rubber, said outer sponge layer having channels, each of said channels consisting of interconnected regularly shaped pores, said pores conforming in shape to water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed therefrom by dissolution in water.

5. In an apparatus for impregnating textile materials with liquids, the combination of a sizing bath, guide rolls partially submerged in said bath for conveying said textile materials over said bath and applying liquid from said bath to textile material, a slasher roll each co operating with one of said guide rolls to control the amount of liquid left in said textile material, said slasher rolls having a neoprene cover, the outer surface or" which consists of sponge rubber with channels formed of interconnected regularly shaped pores said pores conforming in shape to Water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed therefrom by dissolution in water.

6. In an apparatus for impregnating textile materials with liquids, the combination of a sizing bath, guide rolls partially submerged in said bath for conveying said textile materials over said bath and applying liquid from said bath to said textile material, a slasher roll each cooperating with one of said guide rolls to control the amount of liquid left in said textile material, said slasher rolls having a cover of butadiene copolymer rubber, the outer surface of which consists of sponge rubber with channels formed interconnected regularly shaped pores, said pores conforming in shape to water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed therefrom by dissolution in water.

'7. In an apparatus for impregnating textile material with liquids, the combination of a sizing bath, guide rolls partially submerged in said bath for conveying said textile materials over said bath and applying liquid from said bath to said textile material, a slasher roll each cooperating with one of said guide rolls to control the amount of liquid left in said textile material, said slasher rolls having a cover of polysulfide rubber, the outer surface of which consists of sponge rubher with channels formed of interconnected regularly shaped pores, said pores conforming in shape to water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed therefrom by dissolution in water.

8. In an apparatus for sizing textile materials, the combination of a sizing bath, a plurality of metal rolls submerged in said bath and synchronously driven, one slasher roll resting on each of said metal rolls, said rolls being adapted to pass the textile material to be sized therebetween, said slasher rolls having a considerable weight due to which they thoroughly contact said metal rolls and are driven thereby and having a rubber-like covering thereon with a relatively thin outer layer of spongelike structure composed of channels, each of said channels consisting of interconnected regularly shaped pores said pores conforming in shape to water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed therefrom by dissolution in water.

9. In an apparatus for sizing textile materials, the combination of a sizing bath, a plurality of metal rolls submerged in said bath and synchronously driven, one slasher roll resting on each of said metal rolls, said rolls being adapted to pass the textile material to be sized therebetween, said slasher rolls having a considerable weight due to which they thoroughly contact said metal rolls and are driven thereby and having a covering consisting of an inner bulk layer of solid rubber-like material and a relatively thin outer layer of spongelike structure composed of channels, each of said channels consisting of interconnected regularly shaped pores said pores conforming in shape to water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed tl1erefrom by dissolution in water.

10. In an apparatus for Sizing textile materials, the combination of a sizing bath, a plurality of metal rolls submerged in said bath and synchronously driven, one slasher roll resting on each of said metal rolls, said rolls being adapted to pass the textile materials to be sized therebetween, said slasher rolls having a considerable weight due to which they thoroughly contact said metal rolls and are driven thereby and having a covering consisting of an inner solid bulk layer of rubber-like material and a relatively thin layer of spongelike structure thereon, said sponge-like structure being formed by interconnected channel-forming voids uniformly distributed in the rubber material, said voids conforming in shape to Water soluble particles compounded with said cover and removed therefrom by dissolution in water.

JOSEPH ROCKOFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 189,838 Briggs et a1 Apr. 24, 1877 1,563,943 Adams Dec. 1, 1925 1,628,261 McGann May 10, 1927 2,04%,640 Schuster June 16, 1936 2,108,189 Batchelder Feb. 15, 1938 2,170,947 i-Iabgood Aug. 29, 1939 2,219,663 Schuster Oct. 29, 1940 2,332,514 Holtzclaw Oct. 26, 1943 2,378,900 Adams June 26, 1945 2,437,362 Rockoii" Mar. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 254,866 Great Britain July 15, 1926 

